NEWS Lena Leimgruber, doctoral student in English literature, attended the SWESSE national conference where a central part was to discuss future prospects for doctoral students.
Portrait. Lena Leimgruber. Doctoral student at the Department of Language Studies.
ImageHans Karlsson“There was a strong focus on doctoral training and I got very good input on literature, but I also got confirmation that my research area is important and current,” says Lena Leimgruber.
The Swedish society for the study of English, SWESSE, organises a national conference every two years which this time was held at Lund University and gathered about 80–90 participants of which about 20–30 were doctoral students. During the PhD symposium, Lena presented her project Speculative fiction in the Arctic: Climate change and sustainability through literature
“By examining literary depictions of climate change and human impact on the environment in this region, the project aims to create a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the Arctic,” says Lena Leimgruber.
Lena holds a one Master's degree in Higher Education and a two year Master's degree in English Literature, both from the University of Gothenburg. Before starting her doctoral studies, she worked as a writing tutor at the University of Gothenburg and at Chalmers University of Technology. Since September 2024 she is a doctoral student at the Department of Language Studies, Umeå University.
This project delves into the Arctic as a dynamic region facing profound cultural and environmental shifts, exploring its depiction within speculative fiction. By analysing works of fiction that merge fictional and factual elements of the climate crisis, it investigates how these stories influence our understanding of climate change's impact on Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous communities. This genre enables readers to engage with complex issues, envisioning not only possible futures but the present realities of a changing Arctic.
Exploring the Arctic through Speculative Fiction and Climate Change
